A near-death experience in a 7-year-old child.
A M A Journal of Diseases of Children October 1, 1983 DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.1983.02140360023008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 7-year-old near-drowning victim |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Key findings | Reports a near-death experience in a 7-year-old near-drowning victim, with the core features typical of such experiences. The authors argue that pediatricians should be aware of the potential need for counseling in children who survive near-fatal events. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences occurring to persons who have survived near-terminal events, such as cardiac arrests or profound comas, have been widely reported in the lay literature; however, there is little documentation of such events in the medical literature. These experiences generally have a consistent core of euphoric affect, an out-of-the-body state, encountering a being of light, meeting others (especially dead relatives), and going from a dark tunnel to a world of light. This core remains consistently present despite wide variations in the religious or cultural background of the person. Such an event occurred to a 7-year-old near-drowning victim. Pediatricians should be alerted to the potential need for counseling in children who have survived near-fatal events.